With Help from Mom, Dallas Police Have Pinned Two Recent Murders on Her Teenage Son

A Dallas teenager is locked up this morning, accused of killing two people over drugs and money -- and investigators have his mom to thank.

Nineteen-year-old Jasper Okeith Adams Jr. was arrested by Dallas police on Tuesday for an outstanding warrant and quickly tied to a pair of murders.

The first occurred early on the evening of September 3. According to an arrest affidavit, Adams shot 48-year-old Jeanine Ratliff during a dispute over drugs. Officers found her body in the kitchen of a known drug house in the 2700 block of Ann Arbor. Police say they learned of Adam's possible involvement from his mother, and that he confessed during an interview on Tuesday.

The second killing allegedly stemmed from an argument over money. A second arrest affidavit says that Adams showed up to a house in the 1700 block of Fernwood Avenue some time between 3:30 and 4 a.m. on Saturday morning to confront 60-year-old Roosevelt Rider over money he said was owed to him.

Rider stepped outside and was shot in the head. A witness IDed Adams as the man who had pounded on the door just before the gunshot rang out, police say.

Adams was taken to Lew Sterrett on a pair of murder charges. He'll remain there pending trial unless he can make his $500,000 bond.